JPMorgan - KASE

of State Revenue was merged with the Ministry of Finance. The state revenue planning
responsibility of both ministries were transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Budget
Planning. At the same time, the Agency for Strategic Planning was merged with the Ministry of
Economy and Budget Planning.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch of the State is the Parliament, which consists of an upper chamber (the
“Senate”) of 39 deputies and a lower chamber (the “Majilis”) of 77 deputies. Seven of the
deputies in the Senate are appointed by the President and the remainder are appointed by
representative bodies of the regional and city authorities. The deputies in the Majilis are elected
by direct popular vote.
Judicial Branch
Judicial authority is vested in the Supreme Court, regional courts and district courts. The Supreme
Court is the highest judicial body for all civil and criminal matters. The Chairman of the Supreme
Court, the chairpersons of the Supreme Court benches and judges of the Supreme Court are
elected by the Senate from the candidacies submitted by the President based on the
recommendations of the Supreme Judicial Council.
Constitutional Council
The Constitution provides for a seven member Constitutional Council which is vested with the
responsibility for resolving disputes over presidential and parliamentary elections and public
referenda, providing official interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, ensuring the
constitutionality of legislation and international agreements, implementing procedures under
the constitution for the removal of the President from office and investigating claims brought
under the Constitution in relation to the exercise of presidential power. Each of the President,
the Chairman of the Senate and the Chairman of the Majilis appoints two members of the
Constitutional Council. In addition, the President appoints the Council’s Chairman.
Local Government
The structure of local government was established in December 1993 and is performed by local
representative bodies (“maslikhats”) and local executives (“akims”) for each of the country’s 14
regions (“oblasts”) and the cities of Astana and Almaty, which together represent the first tier of
territorial administration. Approximately 160 rural districts (“rayons”) and a further 82 cities
together make up the second tier of territorial administration. The maslikhats and akims are
responsible for collection of local taxes and provision of certain social services, including health
care, education and emergency services, preparation and adoption of social plans and local
budgets.
Political Parties
The principle of political plurality is enshrined in the Constitution. There are a total of sixteen
political parties registered with the Ministry of Justice, the main ones being the Socialist Party,
the People’s Congress Party of Kazakhstan, the Republican Party of Kazakhstan, the Communist
Party, the Republic Labor Party, the Civil Party, the “Otan” (Homeland) Party and the Justice
Party. Opposition is centered on the nationalist, socialist and communist parties. However,
political parties in Kazakhstan have not played a significant role to date, due in part to the fact
that deputies in Parliament have been elected not on the basis of political parties, but rather as
individuals representing specific constituencies. In early 2002 a new party, Ak Zhol, was officially
registered. Ak Zhol was founded by a number of former high-ranking Government officials and
leading businessmen, and stated its primary aim as political and economic liberalization.
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